The Independent Student Newspaper of the University of Toronto Mississauga since 1974
Issue 11 Volume 47 November 30 2020
themedium.ca
EDUCATION FOR ALL
THE RIGHTS DEBATE
LIFE IN STUDENT HOUSING
The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union has been very active this past month with its campaigns Education for All and Academic Advocacy. Following the Peel region’s lockdown on November 23, the UTMSU has closed down its campus offices... >> UTMSU continued on page 04
On Monday, November 23, new lockdown measures went into effect in Toronto and Peel. The province has been seeing alarming numbers of Covid-19 cases from these two regions specifically, with overall daily case counts well over the 1,000 mark. >> EDITORIAL continued on page 05
Rose wakes up early most mornings in her 12 by 12 Oscar Peterson Hall (OPH) room. After brushing her teeth and getting dressed, she walks to the Davis building to get her morning coffee—there aren’t many places that are open anymore. >> RESIDENCE continued on page 07
NEWS
Lockdown threatens small businesses Sheryl Gurajada Contributor
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any areas within the Greater Toronto Area, including the Peel region, went into lockdown on November 23 after the Ontario government labeled the areas a Covid-19 grey zone. The lockdown is set to stay in place for a minimum of 28 days, upon which the situation will be reassessed, and updated guidelines will be determined. Other regions such as Durham and Waterloo were moved into the red zone, the control level before the grey zone where a lockdown is enforced. >> LOCKDOWN continued on page 02
COMMENT
FEATURES
Social media burnout: Why we need to be mindful when consuming the news Aroni Sarkar Associate Comment Editor
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rom civil unrest to pandemics and wildfires, 2020 has become a symbol of the culmination of all potential despondency, with a shadow of bleakness looming over us at all hours of the day. And a real-time log of it all is right at our fingertips. The fastest way to get someone’s attention has always been through negativity. We are neurologically wired to pay attention to information that unsettles us. News publications have capitalized on human empathy by force-feeding us disaster after disaster to stimulate some sense of a haunted collective memory that would enrage and sadden us into action. Social media is swamped with comparison and riddled with unrealistic expectations of how to simply exist. These expectations present themselves in physical expectations, such as body image, and expectations for our inner social activist. There is a demand, particularly in 2020 due to the pandemic and the rise of social movements worldwide, to increase social media awareness to
the point where every person is required to share information to their followers or else be branded as passive consumers or complicit. Both the pressures of social media involvement and the continuous cycle of negativity on the news inspire the opposite of the intended effect: an apathy amongst the masses. This problem is made even more problematic by the general decrease of attention and patience among social media and news consumers, resulting in shorter ‘quick to the point’ clips which viewers breeze over without developing any meaningful connection or understanding. It seems difficult to carve a way out of this dark bubble at a time like this, but there are ways to overcome this compassion and disaster fatigue. Firstly, there have been lots of positive outcomes of social media usage to evaluate news. A 2017 study with twenty-eight million posts about the Black Lives Matter movement on Twitter revealed that sustained engagement with a movement correlated with lower negativity and anger and helped in the development of a collective identity. >> FATIGUE continued on page 06
Fall graduates reflect on their virtual convocation Pearla Hariri Associate Features Editor
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ith an ongoing pandemic looking down on the world, the university experience has only been made more difficult. The sudden shift from in-person to online classes had a severe impact on many people, especially graduating students. Although proud and happy with their accomplishments, many graduates are still processing the circumstances of the end of their time at UTM. The leap from graduation to the real world, which is already known to be an immense leap, has only proven to be more competitive with so many graduates seeking employment. The Medium had the opportunity to congratulate and discuss these circumstances with a few students in UTM’s fall class of 2020. >> GRADUATING continued on page 08
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NEWS
Lockdown threatens small businesses Residents are encouraged to shop local this holiday season. Sheryl Gurajada Contributor
>> LOCKDOWN continued from page 01 The guidelines for the second lockdown look similar to those seen earlier in the year. Close physical contact is restricted to members of a single household, and a two-metre distance is required between others. Indoor gatherings are entirely prohibited, and outdoor gatherings where distancing is possible are limited to 10 people. Schools and childcare facilities are set to remain open alongside other essential businesses, provided they adhere to the guidelines specified by the province. Weddings, funerals, and in-person religious services are limited to 10 people. Moreover, in-person retail locations are restricted to 50 per cent patron capacity. Recreational facilities and personal care services, including hair and nail salons, spas, and more, have been closed in the Peel region. Ontario has reported more than 115,000 Covid-19 cases so far, and more than 3,600 deaths. Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie discussed her concerns for the rising Covid-19 cases in a news release on November 21. “The sobering reality is that Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations have been rising at an alarming rate in Mississauga over the last month, and I firmly believe these new measures are the only way we can avoid school closures, further spread in our long-term care homes, and overburdening our hospitals,” stated Crombie. “It is the only way to avoid preventable deaths in Mississauga.” The burdens facing small businesses during the global pandemic continue to be a cause for concern, especially for those located in areas with stricter lockdown regulations. The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), representing more than 110,000 small and mid-sized businesses across the country, argues that the lockdown has been disastrous for small businesses.
“It is outrageous that today’s restrictions once again create an unfair advantage for big-box operators like Walmart and Costco, leaving Main Street retailers to shoulder the burden alone,” stated the CFIB in a statement. The federation continued the statement by emphasizing the disparities between large corporations and independent businesses and how financial disadvantages are enforced on the latter.
“Our small businesses are run by our families, our friends, and our neightbours in our community.” “That large department stores can be open while small retailers are forced to close during the busiest season of the year is a direct punch to the gut of independent businesses,” read the CFIB statement. “Many businesses in these regions have already lost three to five months of their year from government shutdowns.” The new “normal” under a global pandemic could mean the end for quite a few independent businesses if they cannot receive the economic support they so gravely require. “Without immediate and full assistance, many won’t survive,” stated the CFIB. “Seeing any of these businesses close permanently would be a loss for owners, employees, communities, and Ontario’s overall recovery effort.” On November 26, the Peel regional council passed a motion calling for the Ontario
Editor | Isik Vera Senel news@themedium.ca
government to increase their support for the smaller retailers. The motion was proposed by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, who emphasized the significance of the issue to the community. “It’s our attempt to level the playing field,” stated Crombie to CBC News. “What’s fundamentally unfair is that our local stores have been forced to close while people are flocking to the big box stores.” The motion’s initial demand was big-box retailers to be banned from selling non-essential goods. However, the motion was amended to ask the province to revise the rules for businesses in areas of lockdown instead. “While [the amended motion] doesn’t limit big box stores from selling non-essential items, it’s a strong message that we need more help for small businesses,” wrote Crombie in a tweet on November 26. Following the council’s three-hour-long debate, the final motion states that the province will look into methods to help independent businesses rather than a specific action. With the holiday and gift-giving season getting into full-steam, local businesses are at risk of shutting down and not making it to the next year. Government and public health officials have continuously encouraged people to shop local and take advantage of the delivery or curbside pick-up options. “Our small businesses are run by our families, our friends, and our neighbours in our community,” said Crombie in a press conference on November 25. “We cannot afford to see them close their doors permanently as a result of this lockdown.”
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Environment Canada issues weather travel advisory for heavy snowfall Residents are told they should prepare for the harsh weather conditions.
Carisse Samuel/The Medium.
Razia Saleh Contributor
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n November 22, Environment Canada announced that heavy snowfall is expected to continue throughout the Greater Toronto Area. The snowfall has reached up to 14 centimeters in some areas, according to Winter Weather Travel Advisory. This weather pattern is expected to continue throughout the month of December. Residents are advised to take precautionary measures when heading outside. The excitement of the first snowstorm of the season has been undermined by the Covid-19 pandemic and recent lockdown measures. The lockdown has especially impacted life in Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area. Residents are exhausted by the pandemic’s socio-economic effects, and many are unable to enjoy the typical outdoor activities this winter. Meghna Parhar, a third-year Professional Writing and Communication student at UTM states that she is concerned for the potential impacts harsh weather conditions might have on the upcoming holiday season. “While Covid-19 has resulted in the cancellation of the Christmas Market, which is one of the events me and my family and friends look forward to attending every year, we were hoping we could still be able celebrate the holidays by going to the Distillery District or the Nathan Phillips Square,” stated Parhar. “However, we might not be able to go downtown if another travel advisory is issued during the holiday season.” Parhar’s concerns are shared by many residents in the Greater Toronto Area who were caught off guard by the harsh weather conditions observed last week.
“Environment Canada upgraded its snowfall advisory for Toronto on November 22, issuing a snowfall warning for the region,” reported CBC News. “Earlier in the afternoon, the weather agency also issued a travel advisory, warning of slippery roads and low visibility at times.” The City of Mississauga declared that they would extend their winter maintenance hours to assist the cleanup efforts. As stated on the City of Mississauga website, snow clearing will be given top priority on “the roads, sidewalks, on the street, bike-lanes, pedestrian crossing, and specific trails.” In addition, crews will begin to clear up the snowfall within 12 to 24 hours after the snow stops and within 24 to 36 hours on residential roads. It may take some time to completely clear the roads this winter, especially if consecutive snowstorms are observed. Vincent Sferrazza, director of operations for the city’s transportation, told CBC News that the city staff clean-up efforts were set up ahead of time on the night of November 21 to prepare for the snowfall ahead on Sunday. Sferrazza continued his statement by discussing the inconsistent weather patterns observed throughout the province. “[We are] not seeing the same level of winter activity in downtown Toronto, or by the lakeshore,” said Sferrazza. “Nevertheless, we continue to monitor that area.” As a result, their clean-up crews will focus on salting the roads in Scarborough, North York, and Etobicoke because conditions are not as severe in Toronto’s downtown core. Rain showers appear to have replaced the previous week’s heavy snowfall at the moment. However, this could change quickly as the week progresses. Residents are told they should prepare for the harsh weather conditions expected in the coming weeks.
Gabriel Alenius/unsplash.com
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Ontario government announces D new digital identity
Carisse Samuel/The Medium
Ricardo Valdes Contributor
igital IDs will contain information found on health cards, driver’s licenses, and birth certificates. The project is part of “Ontario Onwards: Ontario’s Covid-19 Action Plan for a People-Focused Government” and is expected to be in widespread use by 2022. “The Action Plan is a roadmap to guide us and bring major change to government,” stated Peter Bethlenfalvy, president of the Ontario Treasury Board, in a news release last month. “This Action Plan outlines our vision for how we’ll achieve a modern, efficient, and customer-focused government.” In an interview with The Medium, Sebastian Skamski, a spokesperson for Bethlenfalvy, addressed the digital ID project’s goals, its benefits, and its implemented privacy features. “There are numerous real-world applications of digital identity which will make the lives of all Ontarians easier and more convenient,” said Skamski. “A digital wallet will let them securely store verified information on their smartphones and use it to prove their identity to access more services online.” In a press release last month, the government of Ontario stated that digital IDs would allow small business owners to register for per-
mits and licenses online, farmers to register a farm vehicle online without needing to stand in-line at a government office, and seniors to share health information with caregivers. “Parents with young kids will [also] be able to easily access their children’s immunization records and share them online with their childcare providers [and] schools,” continued Skamski. “[This means] saving time and following Covid-19 protocols like social distancing.” However, experts have expressed privacy concerns for digital IDs. Andrew Clement, professor emeritus and faculty of information coordinator at the University of Toronto, proposed that businesses and services that accept digital IDs should offer digital receipts. “It’s about transparency and accountability,” Clement told Toronto News. “You should know when you conduct a transaction that you have some indication from whoever you’re doing that with—basically a commitment—to use as little as possible and for only these purposes.” Liquor retailers, for example, would use digital IDs to verify age without revealing other personal information such as name, address, or birth date. Clement argues that if businesses are forced to implement transparency, they would only take the necessary information. Ontario citizens have brought up other concerns, including intrusive surveillance,
tracking people’s location, and data breaches. “Your privacy and the security of your information are our top priority when designing and implementing digital identity,” stated Skamski. “We are building [principles] from the beginning of program design.” Digital IDs will come with strong encryption and privacy-protecting technology to secure personal information. The government of Ontario will work with the Office of Information Privacy Commissioner to perform Privacy Impact and Threat Risk Assessments, ensuring that the project meets its highest privacy protection standards. The government will also work with an expert panel to help modernize cyber-security across the Ontario Public Sector. “Leveraging their skills and experience will enable the province to strengthen the resiliency of our digital infrastructure,” said Skamski. Those who are concerned about digital IDs still have the option to opt-out. “The use of digital identity will be completely voluntary,” concluded Skamski. “While in-person options will be available, every person online means one less person in line,” he continued. “When people choose online options, the service experience gets better for those who need to go in person.” The government of Ontario will consult with the industry on how the province can implement a secure digital ID by the end of 2021.
UTMSU’s Education for All campaign in full swing Isik Vera Senel News Editor >> UTMSU continued from page 01 and suspended all in-person services. The union will continue to provide students with U-Pass cards via mail and limited pick-up availabilities. The Education for All campaign is built around the students’ demands for sufficient accessibility services, equitable resources for international students, and reduced tuition across the board. Moreover, the campaign advocates for increased opportunities for grants, scholarships, and paid internships.
“Accessibility has been a significant topic of concern at UTM for a few years now.” “High tuition fees have discriminatory and detrimental impacts on students,” states the UTMSU in its September 2020 lobby document on the issue. “In Ontario, students are faced with the highest tuition fees in the country and the financial burden that accompanies them, which leaves many students with huge amounts of debt for decades.” The lobby document also addressed the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and its impacts on post-secondary education. Many students are displeased with the current situation and miss attending in-person lectures with their friends and studying on campus. However,
virtual education has become a significant obstacle for some students and faculty, especially for those with learning disabilities. “Too often, the curricula and lesson plans used in the institution are not designed or delivered based on principles of accessibility,” stated the UTMSU. “Considering the shift to online learning and a rush to train faculty and administrators on these new tools, there is a fear that students who need accommodations will be left behind.” Accessibility has been a significant topic of concern at UTM for a few years now, with major renovations installed throughout campus buildings to improve wheelchair accommodation. Vinney Wong, the previous Arts Editor for The Medium, wrote a poignant op-ed article in 2019, exposing UTM’s inadequate efforts to create a fair and accessible environment for all students and staff. “As a person with a disability, I strive for independence,” wrote Wong. “I am unable to be independent at my job because of these restrictions and accessibility issues.” It is essential that the UTMSU continues to demand the university administration dedicates more funds and staff to improve accessibility. However, it is also imperative that the union also does its part in promoting equity within our community. As stated in its non-consolidated financial statements from 2019, the UTMSU had an increase of $1,709,159 in assets following its separation from the UTSU. The 2019-2020 Vice-President Internal of UTMSU Sara Malhotra stated that the funding redirected to UTMSU from UTSU is allocated for health
and accessibility initiatives. “These are funds that the UTSU used to collect on our behalf before, but due to the separation, we are collecting the funds for health and dental and wheelchair accessibility,” stated Malhotra. “These funds are restricted because they’re supposed to go to those specific reasons.” Since the UTMSU remains separate from the UTSU and continues to receive these restricted funds, it is only reasonable for the student union to observe the appropriate improvements in health and accessibility services. Vinney Wong argued that this wasn’t the case as she struggled to reach The Medium’s second-floor offices with difficulty due to the Student Centre elevator’s limitations. “If the UTMSU is unable to solve these issues in a timely manner, the university must step in and help, otherwise shame on both parties,” concluded Wong. The union continues to demand improvements from the UTM administration by organizing virtual town halls and publishing a detailed action plan for its Education for All initiative in January 2021. UTMSU expects its recommendations from the plan to be put into effect by the next Fall term. “As an educational institution, it is our duty to provide proper access to resources and services that benefit all students and not just a few,” stated the UTMSU. “These demands are integral to creating a post-secondary education system that prioritizes Education for All students.” The UTMSU will host the Education for All Town Hall on Monday, November 30.
MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Paula Cho editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Ali Taha managing@themedium.ca News Isik Vera Senel news@themedium.ca Comment Aya Yafaoui comment@themedium.ca Features Elizabeth Provost features@themedium.ca A&E Chris Berberian arts@themedium.ca Sports Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield sports@themedium.ca Photo Julia Healy photos@themedium.ca Design Tegwen McKenzie design@themedium.ca Copy Melissa Barrientos melissa@themedium.ca Alexis Whelan alexis@themedium.ca Online Yasmeen Alkoka online@themedium.ca
ASSOCIATES Aroni Sarkar, Comment Danica Teng, Arts Paige France, Arts Pearla Hariri, Features May Alsaigh, Features Hayden Mak, Photos
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To CONTRIBUTE, email editor@themedium.ca @TheMediumUTM
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COMMENT
Editor | Aya Yafaoui comment@themedium.ca
Editorial: Your rights aren’t absolute. That’s not only okay, but necessary The pandemic has reignited the rights debate, and its newest symbol is Adamson BBQ. blamed the media for “biased reporting,” chanting “CBC sucks” and “fake news” at reporters, some even harassed journalists on the scene. Even after Skelly’s arrest, protestors moved to demonstrating outside the Premier’s home. These actions are reminiscent of what is happening to a larger degree in the United States. Still, they do remind us that no ideology can be stopped at the border. I call their beliefs an ideology purposefully. It is an ideology that believes that individual rights and privileges are more important than the common good. What this ideology conveniently forgets is that no right is absolute. The first thing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees to its citizens is that “the rights and freedoms set out in [the Charter are] subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.”
Aya Yafaoui Comment Editor
>> EDITORIAL continued from page 01 In response, the province shut down all nonessential businesses, prohibited indoor gatherings, and closed restaurants, bars, and sports centres until December 21. However, one business owner decided that these restrictions weren’t going to stop him from opening his restaurant to the public. Adam Skelly, the owner of Adamson BBQ, took to Instagram on Tuesday morning to let his customers know that he’ll be opening his restaurant for dining in, against the province’s restrictions. People flocked to the restaurant, most not wearing masks, eager to eat and snub the province’s rules in the process. By-law officers arrived late to the scene and left without closing the establishment down or issuing any penalties for disobeying the lockdown orders. Finally, on Tuesday evening, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health ordered the restaurant to close. Yet, the next morning, Skelly once again opened his restaurant, joined by a large group of protestors to support his flagrant violation of the law. Police once again arrived on the scene and shut down the restaurant, and nine charges were laid against the business owner. Early Thursday morning, police changed the locks to the restaurant but let Skelly into his restaurant from the back in an “act of good faith”—which was subsequently broken by Skelly when he broke down an interior wall to get to his kitchen and serve food to the mass of protestors outside. Three days of violating provincial and municipal health restrictions culminated in Skelly and another man’s arrest, and Skelly facing 13 charges and fines, potentially totalling thousands of dollars. I wish I could say that is where the saga ends, with one man’s actions that jeopardized an entire community facing the consequences. However, Adam Skelly isn’t the main problem in this story—as much as he seems to want to be the centre of attention. No, the real issue is the protestors that flocked to the barbecue joint and made it into a symbol for anti-lockdown, anti-mask, and anti-vaccine ideologies. Some of the protestors are even reportedly neo-Nazis and white supremacists. The protestors claimed that opening the restaurant was a part of Adam Skelly’s freedom of speech and within his right. They argued that their rights were being infringed upon by the provincial government because of its Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. They
“Small businesses are being disproportionately harmed with this second lockdown.”
Hector Vasquez/BlogTO
In other words, rights are not unlimited and absolute as some claim. They have justifiable limits because one person’s rights end where another person’s rights begin. In our current situation, I would argue that a global pandemic that has killed almost 12 thousand people in Canada and more than one million people worldwide is a justifiable reason to limit an individual’s freedom of speech. However, I do sympathize with one point that is being raised in this debate. Small businesses are being disproportionately harmed with this second lockdown. Big corporations, such as Costco and Wal-Mart, are allowed to stay open and sell essential products like groceries and earn a profit from their eateries. This arrangement gives these corporations a significant advantage over smaller businesses in a climate where they already have a lot of power and resources in their favour. Premier Doug Ford said he sympathized with small business owners, but sympathy isn’t enough. The provincial government needs to do a better job at managing this pandemic. They also need to provide greater support to those most affected by the virus and the restrictions that follow. Nevertheless, financial hurt, ideology, and individual rights are not justifiable reasons to shirk lockdown restrictions and endanger the lockdown’s very legitimacy and severity. In the end, our collective right to life and health should trump some people’s right to freedom of speech.
T G N I L E E F H T F O D E IR NSTA O C E TREA S T N BADN F O M H T N I S W E DIA E M E 06
Social media and news fatigue: Why we need to be mindful when consuming the news Aroni Sarkar Associate Comment Editor
>> FATIGUE continued from page 01
The crucial element of this finding is that social media here is used to start a dialogue and become a stepping stone for further engagement. When consumers began to dedicate their time selectively and balance it with outside resources, a positive change occurred in their relationship to the news. Secondly, for many people, seeing violence and tragedy can trigger a rapid worsening of their wellbeing and mental health. Taking the time to ‘detox’ and unplug for a short period to digest the information received in a healthy and safe environment can be beneficial. However, this is different from ignoring information. Ignorance and avoidance are privileges that many cannot afford since the events presented on the news affect their very beings. So, it is important to be aware of what is happening, while also evaluating it on your own terms in a healthy manner. Have a conversation, read up on sources, but most importantly, keep coming back and detoxing as needed. Finally, remember that it is not all bad news. There are many pages and sites where you can find positive news. For example, The Guardian began posting weekly positive news Instagram posts with a recount of positive changes happening all over the world. John Krasinski began his viral YouTube series Some Good News. Make the conscious effort to seek out positive news. It can take some effort at first, but once found, it can have lasting effects on your wellbeing and can be worthwhile. Take some time every night to consider what you are grateful for, whether it be small things like a favourite song, or something more profound, like your resilience. A daily count of what you are grateful for can decrease anxiety and help you cope with stress. At the end of the day, the ultimate message is that the amount of news we consume each day through social media or news channels is not what is most important. Rather, it is the way in which we engage with that news. Taking the time, whether it be a few minutes or a few days, to interact with the information consciously, investigating how it affects you and how you can participate with it will counter the negative effects of news overconsumption in the long run. Too much news can be troublesome and detrimental in many ways, but it is important to stay aware and informed by discovering methods that work best for us individually.
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UTM residence students open up about living on campus, staying connected, and keeping healthy during Covid-19.
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features
Editor | Elizabeth Provost features@themedium.ca
A little village: The student experience living on residence during Covid-19 Anna Povorozniuk Contributor >> RESIDENCE continued from page 01 She puts on her mask and takes the elevator down to the first floor, which smells like bleach. Outside, she occasionally sees a person walking with food in their hands or smoking a cigarette in a designated smoking area. The Davis building is empty. Rose grabs her coffee and goes back outside, walking the main circle—IB, ICCIT, and the Deerfield buildings—five or six times, just to get her daily steps in. With her morning coffee cup empty and feeling a bit tired, she goes back to her room. Her day, full of Zoom meetings and lectures, begins. When she feels hungry, she orders a meal online from the student canteen downstairs, Colman Commons. Rose takes another bleach-smelling elevator downstairs and grabs her food, which is already ready and packaged in a bag. Rose Twomey is a fourth-year student majoring in CCIT and PWC and a Don for one of the student communities in OPH. Her days are similar to most students on campus, who all tend to isolate in their rooms and leave only out of necessity. For Rose, the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic was very challenging. “I would wake up in my single bed and have a Zoom class half an hour later, where I don’t really need to turn the camera on,” she shares. “It’s very easy just to stay in your pajamas all day because no one really sees you.” That’s why she chooses to walk every day—not only because Davis has the best coffee, but to get out of bed and get ready. She encourages her students to go on walks too. The window in Rose’s room shows the front of OPH and McLuhan residences. Out there, she sees many people just walking by themselves. “It is like a religious practice here,” Rose says. The UTM campus is empty most days. Students have to wear masks anywhere outside of their unit. Common areas are being sanitized daily, and most residences doubled the number of hand-sanitizer dispensers available to students. All of the residences remain open, operating at half-full capacities. The only residences closed are Erindale Hall and McLuhan. At the start of the semester, those residences were used to quarantine students that came to campus internationally. “Right now, they are completely offline, except for quarantine and selfisolating situations,” Rose mentions. Colman Commons is one of the only places serving food right now, other than Chatime and the Blind Duck. Each time you get food, you have to sign-in. You leave your name, phone number, and the time you were there—contact tracing is quite vigorous. There’s no eating inside allowed, so students have to settle on takeout and bring the food to their rooms. Some students, who live in a townhouse and have a kitchen, avoid going out for food on campus altogether. “I have my groceries delivered to my door. Better safe than sorry,” an anonymous student shared. Even with Covid-19 scares, living in residence is still a comfortable and preferable experience for some students. Hamza bin Waheed, who is in his second year in the commerce program, is an international student. He decided to come back to campus because he did not want to forfeit his position as President of the Residence Council, but that was not his only reason. “When I am in residence, I feel like more of a student,” Waheed shares. “There is also a 10-hour time difference between my country and Canada. I don’t want to be doing my lectures past midnight.”
Another source shares that since they lived in residence for the last two years, they did not want to look for another place. The convenience of living in residence is something that they do not wish to give up. Although mostly confined to their rooms, students rarely have time to be bored with online lectures and schoolwork taking up most of their time. “The work is never-ending. Sometimes I’m done with my meetings around 1 a.m.,” Waheed states. Nadira Sharif, a second-year biology and psychology student and a Residence Council executive, shares that she stayed in residence at the start of the pandemic. “It was tougher in the beginning since I did not have contact with anyone and only went outside to grab food,” she shares. Last year, Sharif was one of the students residing in OPH and adjusting to the new reality. This year, she lives in a townhouse at Putnam, with her friends living nearby. They all take necessary precautions to ensure that they are staying safe from the virus. “It’s not that bad this year. With all these Zoom lectures, at least I still feel like a student when living in residence,” says Sharif. When asked about students’ social circles, Rose shares that the students are permitted to have friends in their rooms. “It’s totally okay,” she says. “But off-campus guests are not allowed.” It is hard to enforce, as Dons usually don’t know and, frankly, can’t know everyone who currently lives in residence. “It’s each individuals’ responsibility, and we hope that the students will respect the rules,” Rose explains. And they do—many other students report the same resident protocol. The UTM student community has turned away from parties and toward social responsibility. “Coming into this year, I had no idea what it would be like. I thought there would be an outbreak within the first week,” Rose says. “But there hasn’t been any. I am very proud of how everyone has been handling restrictions.” Rose says that most students have been extremely careful and responsible. “You get an odd student walking down the hall without a mask, but that’s because they forgot to put it on. Most of the time, they rush to their room to get it.” Rose mentions that she hasn’t heard any “anti-mask” talk at all. Even if there were, the university would not tolerate it. After two cases were announced at the Student Center in September, Rose said that some students decided to self-isolate out of precaution. In this case, the university delivered food to their door. “It is nerve-wracking when you walk down the hallway and see paper bags outside people’s doors. It is usually a dead giveaway,” Rose shares. The university also puts little orange stickers on the doors of people in quarantine, so if anyone sees a person leaving a room with an orange mark and a paper bag, it raises some alarms. “UTM has done a really good job. We have had very few Covid-19 cases on residence compared to other schools like Western, for example,” says Rose. This comes after Western University declared an outbreak in its largest residence with eight residents testing positive for Covid-19. “A bunch of my friends from home goes there. It is such a different mentality,” she concludes. UTM residence does not have any positive cases at the moment. Only two students tested positive at the beginning of the semester. However, there was no further community spread. “UTM residence is like a little village,” Rose says with a laugh. “We are so separate from the Peel Region. I see how many cases are popping up in Mississauga. Yet, our campus has had a remarkably low number of cases, and hopefully, it will stay that way.”
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GraduaTing
amid a pandemic:
Daniil Kuzelev/unsplash.com
Fall class of 2020 reflects and reminisces on their years at UTM Pearla Hariri, Associate Features Editor
>> GRADUATING continued from page 01 Zeahaa Rehman Linguistics and Professional Writing and Communication (PWC) Coming into UTM, Zeahaa Rehman knew she would be pursuing professional writing and communications, but during her first year, she grew to love linguistics as well. One of her favourite courses during her undergrad was LIN256: Sociolinguistics. Rehman explains that “language is such a huge part of our daily lives, and it was interesting to understand how it works to modify one’s identity.” Another class Rehman thoroughly enjoyed was HSC200: Imaging Technologies for Scientific Visual Communi-
cation, as it taught her new skills such as being able to use Adobe Illustrator. Rehman’s advice for undergraduate students is to “always check degree requirements before course selection.” During her time at UTM, Rehman did not get into the habit of checking beforehand. As a result, she often took courses she did not need and were not necessarily her forte. Rehman emphasizes that this allows students to save time and money and take the courses geared toward their future degrees. Rehman also encourages students to get involved in the UTM community, whether through a student organization or research opportunities offered in their programs, such as the ROP or the EXTERN program. Rehman explains how she learned more about her capabilities and interests outside of class than in lectures. Rehman’s last ad-
vice to students is to “prioritize your mental health and take your time.” She completed her degree in five years instead of four, and although she wishes she was not graduating amid a pandemic, she feels as though she was able to do more in her five years at UTM than others could in four years. Reflecting on graduating amid a pandemic, Rehman discusses the odd circumstances of the experience. Rehman explains that although her paper certificate is indicative of her graduation from U of T, she feels “guilty” for reveling or being proud of her accomplishments because there was no definite celebration to mark the completion of her undergraduate years. She is worried about her plans for the future as she hoped to enter the profes>> GRADUATING continued on page 09
09 >> GRADUATING continued from page 08 sional world in her field, while potentially pursuing a Master’s degree. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has only made finding a job much more complicated and draining. This is mainly because numerous graduates are seeking similar opportunities, in addition to those who unfortunately lost their jobs due to Covid-19. Despite this, Rehman’s years and experiences as a U of T student have shown her how to overcome obstacles, and she is motivated rather than discouraged about the challenges ahead. Aliyah Khan Environmental Science and Biology for Health Sciences To Aliyah Khan, being a U of T graduate means that although she could not walk across the stage in Convocation Hall, she feels she is “part of a new, supportive community.” Khan is proud to say that she is a U of T graduate because it displays her “dedication toward school and perseverance through tough years.” Khan is also encouraged by the diverse and numerous courses the school provided over her undergraduate years. She explains her appreciation and love for many of her environmental science courses, including ENV100: Introduction to the Environment, GGR377: Climate Change, and EN495/496: Restoration Ecology. All three of these courses only further “piqued [her] interest in all the topics [she] wanted to pursue.” In the next year, Khan hopes to work and further her experience in the field of environmental science. She elaborates that environmental education and climate change are her passions, and so she will be grateful for a career exploring either of these fields. Khan also states that she hopes to go back to school in the next five years to continue her education, working toward a master’s degree. Khan explains how the transition to online classes was quick. “My professors started talking about the switch to online near the end of the semester, and final exams began changing to assignments.” Since Khan’s classes were small, this change enabled more robust communication during the online lectures and presentations. Khan stresses how she “can’t imagine doing full course loads online though for an entire semester,” and how lucky she was only to have to do it for the last few weeks of the semester. Khan’s first advice to undergraduate students is to “get involved on campus with clubs and activities as it makes the university experience so much more entertaining.” Her second piece of advice is to find a good study spot, whether for online or in-person classes. She finds that while it is easier to stay in her bedroom and do work and attend classes, this is not the ideal situation. She explains how she feels more productive working in other spots in the house. Lastly, Khan suggests attending all classes during the designated time, if possible. She emphasizes the importance of paying attention during class and avoiding using a phone or browsing other sites. Khan believes that the best way to achieve this is to “act as if the lectures are still in person,” as it encourages one to stay focused and avoid distractions. Khan found that by keeping this in mind, her notes were much more thorough, and she was engaging in class more efficiently and consistently. Kyle Howard Physics and Environmental Science Kyle Howard expresses that being a U of T graduate is an accomplishment in which he takes a lot of pride in as it took him “five long years to receive [his] degree.” He explains how this is evident in all his social media profiles, with his new status being a University of Toronto graduate. Being able to accomplish something that few others have accomplished holds special purpose and value to him. Despite being immersed in uncertain conditions, Howard feels as though he tried his best to plan for his future, which allowed him to acquire a new job at a company doing clerical business work. He hopes that he will continue to pursue other posi-
tions next year and find a career in the environmental science field. Discussing his plans for the next five years, Howard explains that his life goals are still shifting and are drastically different from those he set out for himself at the beginning of university. Ultimately, Howard hopes to find a job “that balances a stable work environment with my creative passions, such as writing or filmmaking.” Currently, Howard plans to go back to school to pursue computer science and to use the skills he attained throughout his degree in more practical applications. He explains that a position providing him with creative freedom through a digital medium, such as web design or video game programming, would be incredible. Howard states that his time at U of T “changed me as a person entirely […] I exit university a mature adult.” During his undergraduate years, the considerable skills he acquired include time management, organization, workplace professionalism, social networking, and mental health awareness. He believes his time at U of T has changed his perspective of the world, “opening my eyes to the many opportunities available and the value of my potential.” Kyle states, “If I were able to go back and tell my first-year university self all the things I have now accomplished during my undergraduate degree, I would have thought this was impossible.” He explains that learning at this institution pushed his limits further than he could have ever imagined he was capable of, showing him the precious value of post-secondary education. For this, he “will always be grateful for [his] time at the University of Toronto.” Diego Altamira Olvera CCIT and Professional Writing and Communication (PWC) Diego Olvera states that he is “proud of being a U of T graduate, although [he] is not always pleased with how the institution functions.” However, despite this, he is aware that his accomplishment is no easy feat. Olvera explains how his four years at UTM have shaped him in many ways, some he may not even be aware of at this stage in his life. He states that although “a 600,000-member alumni club may not sound too special, its members and the world know it is, and I am proud to be a part of it.” When asked about courses he thoroughly enjoyed, Olvera explains how fortunate the CCIT and PWC majors are in terms of unique courses at U of T. He further elaborates on “being able to be creative in many ways while attending two great institutions, Sheridan College and UTM.” Olvera’s favourite courses include WRI327, WRI365, CCT260, and CCT434. With the pandemic still looming over the world, Olvera finds that his plans for the next year have changed to accommodate for the current circumstances. Nevertheless, he says that he will focus on gaining more experience in his field while also making money to pay his student loans. That being said, Olvera hopes to find a job in which he “can practice and build skills to prepare for a hopefully pandemic-free future.” His goal is to have a position working as part of a team, company, or as a freelancer within an environment that will allow him to provide graphic design services.
Olvera elaborates on finishing his degree during a pandemic, saying it was very anomalous in multiple aspects. To begin, he was surprised by the unexpected introduction to the Zoom platform—unaware of its existence until this year. He also touches upon the shared experience of waking up five minutes before his 9 a.m. classes and being able to see his professor lecture on his phone screen. Just as he believes things could not be more surprising, he discusses how he was “watching [his] convocation ceremony on YouTube and receiving [his] diploma hours later by a FedEx worker.” Olvera’s message for students working toward graduating is to “keep going.” He emphasizes the importance of perseverance despite the difficulties brought forth by the pandemic, making the university experience much more complicated. He states that although at times, “there seems to be no end in sight, this does not mean you will not graduate. With each passing class, each submitted paper, each finished test means you are that much closer to the end.” Devin Hunt History and Art/Art History Through her struggles, Devin Hunt feels an enormous sense of pride and accomplishment in being a U of T graduate. She is certain that “completing my degree at U of T has left me with a confidence that I’m not sure another school could have given me.” Her degree and her experience have given her the strength to conquer any challenges she may face. Hunt states that she feels she can go anywhere in the world with her degree and it will be “worth just as much as it’s worth in Canada.” With this sense of security, Hunt hopes to get a visa and fly to Australia to enter her first year of the Master of Art Curatorship program at the University of Melbourne. In the future, she looks forward to gaining experience in working at art galleries and figuring out where she wants to ground her career. Hunt was inspired to apply to this program when she was exploring opportunities to study abroad with U of T. She spent the beginning of the past Winter semester in Melbourne on an exchange but was called home in light of the pandemic. For this reason, she doesn’t feel like there was a proper and concrete ending to her study abroad experience. To UTM students, Hunt emphasizes that it is “important for students to recognize their own worth and the value of their ideas. Just because you may not be performing as well as you’d like in certain courses doesn’t mean that you, as a student and member of the U of T community, are any less important than another student who makes news headlines and wins awards.” She believes in the importance of working on something that makes you proud, which will, in turn, inspire others. As Hunt expands her horizons, she encourages other students to do the same by exploring their passions within and beyond their coursework. Hunt concludes by stating, “I was rarely at the top of my classes, but the impact my education has had on my own interests, abilities, and beliefs is immense. My time at U of T allowed me to discover what I’m most passionate about, and I’m shaping my future around it.”
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Arts
Editor | Chris Berberian arts@themedium.ca
The Queen’s Gambit is a checkmate for Netflix Anya Taylor-Joy stars in this limited series that’s sure to leave you sweating.
Danica Teng Associate Arts Editor
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n a checkered board of 64 squares, you need strategy and instinct to survive in the game of chess, which is exactly what Beth Harmon has. Beth is the protagonist in The Queen’s Gambit, Netflix’s newest limited series that’s putting the craze back into chess and even making strangers fall in love with the game. With over 62 million household views just a month after its release, The Queen’s Gambit has skyrocketed to become Netflix’s mostwatched limited series of all time. Based on the Walter Tevis’ 1983 novel of the same name, the story follows Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) from orphan to professional chess player. After the death of her mother, Beth is placed in the Methuen Home for Girls—an orphanage and the birthplace of
Mine Barack Obama’s mind in A Promised Land
Ian Langsdon/ The Atlantic
her love for chess. Learning the rules of the game from the orphanage’s janitor, we discover Beth is a prodigy. But being a prodigy is not always glamourous, as the pressure fuels Beth’s bubbling addiction to tranquilizer pills. As a teenager, Beth gets adopted by a couple with a dwindling marriage. Now, she must learn to navigate the severe world outside the orphanage walls. In this stunning coming-of-age story set in the 1960s, Beth makes a name for herself in the chess world with the support of her adoptive mother, Alma Wheatley (Marielle Heller), and friendly rivals Harry Beltik (Harry Melling) and Benny Watts (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), as she sets targets beating the formidable world champion from Russia, Vasily Borgov (Marcin Dorociński). Although many of us are stuck at home, The Queen’s Gambit has been a boon for chess business. The show has led to an overwhelming increase in sign-ups for online chess sites and Google searches for “how to play chess.” Its popularity even thrusted the original novel onto The New York Times bestseller list, 37 years after its release. While many people aren’t interested in chess—I’m guilty of being one of them—it is difficult to deny the show’s remarkable production quality. Creators Scott Frank and
Allan Scott depict how beautifully complex chess can be and contrast it against Beth’s dark trauma and spiraling addiction, exploring how the two intertwine. While venturing into the harsh reality of these topics, The Queen’s Gambit also includes subtle and not-so-subtle hints of grander themes such as feminism and racial inequality that portray our reality for what it is. These ideas are skillfully executed by the well-constructed cast. Anya Taylor-Joy, known for her breakout performances in The Witch and Split, is unrecognizable as she dons Beth’s beautiful red micro bangs hair style. While Taylor-Joy looks incredible from her makeup to her costume design, her talent shines above all else. She captures Beth’s fragility and confidence, often switching between the two, as she’s trapped to wrestle her trauma and sudden fame. Beth’s character change is noteworthy but natural. We believe it’s still her, but we’re shocked when we look back on how much she has grown. Other supporting roles, like Ingram, Heller, Melling, and Brodie-Sangster were impressive additions. They each highlighted the chemistry between Beth and their characters, showing the strength of these relationships and their impacts on Beth’s life. While the story and cast are deserving of
praise, there’s no doubt that the show captivated audiences through its cinematography. In a game with minimal movements and half-hour long turns, chess doesn’t leave much room for intense action. And yet, the way the sweeping camera places a heavy burden on the movement of each piece, on the rows of chess tables, and on each piercing glare between opponents. There is an element of unpredictability and a tense aura surrounding each game. Beyond the board, the show’s depiction of the 60s aesthetic is mesmerizing and a treat for the eye. Even though chess is well known, a show revolving around the game defied all expectations to become one of Netflix’s most popular titles. The Queen’s Gambit delivered an unlikely, but intriguing, mixture of chess and personal drama. It also gave us a heart-breaking and heart-warming performance from its lead actress. As Beth Harmon says, “Chess isn’t always competitive. It can also be beautiful.”
Alexandria Ramoutar Contributor
Obama unafraid of our judgment or comfortable enough with his own flaws? I’m not sure. Is he too familiar with duplicity and the dissemination of moral acts? Probably.
Obama honours their tenacity and hard work ethic. With humour and unrelenting adoration, he depicts his wife, Michelle Obama, as steady and deeply supportive, and his children, Malia and Sasha, as energetic and curious. Throughout his memoir, Obama keeps his tone friendly, letting jokes slip in. During more serious moments, like losing his mother, he keeps his emotions raw and unflinching. He links his calm demeanour to his Hawaiian upbringing, his care for global poverty to his mother, Ann, and his enjoyment of literature to his grandmother, Toot. They, alongside various non-profits and churches, all shaped him for public service before governance. With empathy and concern, Obama opens up about the blow of the recession, Somalian pirates taking Captain Philip and his crew hostage, letters from unemployed Americans, the BP Oil spill, and the DREAM Act failing to go through the Senate. And that’s just scratching the surface of this memoir, volume one of an intended two-part series. Obama’s eloquent prose and stream-ofconsciousness style helps readers understand his mind and his methods of handling troublesome people. Through the written word, the former president captures the hope we dream to see become reality. A Promised Land encourages us to pursue more, open our arms, and to find a better future for one another.
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t’s Fall, 2008. Barack Obama is running for president, and I’m attending a mostly allwhite secondary school. My classmates debate about how Obama could win and then, after the election, why he did. “Black people voted for him just because he’s black” is a common sentiment. On a nearby street, the owner of a local Jamaican restaurant plasters a poster of Barack on the front door. At my home, CNN is burned into the TV screen. We feel the tide change. Twelve years later, as I grasp Obama’s memoir—A Promised Land—I realize I hold history. Memoirs are known for their brutally honest retelling of a subject’s personal life. Even so, I’m shocked, pleased, and a little overwhelmed by the sheer transparency Obama provides readers with. In a matter of pages, he goes from a child in Honolulu to a Harvard law student with the immediacy of first-person narration and, at times, the candour of an omniscient third party. In this whopping 700-page memoir, Obama offers us a magnifying glass and a mallet, examining his presidential actions and chipping away at the hidden intentions behind them. Is
“Obama’s eloquent prose and stream-ofconsciousness style helps readers understand his mind...” Obama may thank the media for that. We learn how, when the lights fall and cameras turn on him, he feels the media frenzy can be unnecessary and overwhelming. Whether it’s misleading video clips or misquoted clickbait titles, Obama sees the weight the media has on American viewers. He’s unafraid to admit that Donald Trump’s false birtherism conspiracy, and the media’s attention to it, caused growing pains for his second term campaign. On the other hand, Obama also praises the media for its vital role on the global stage, particularly in sparking social and environmental change during the United Nations Global Summit. At many stops along his journey, Obama affords his accomplishments to his team. From Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to former vice-president and president-elect Joe Biden,
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m de fli et /N ol x
Movies that transformed their genres Paige France Associate Arts Editor
Comedy – Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
s time progresses, transformations in the film industry can represent—or document—the way society also progresses. Movies change and reflect how we view ourselves and the world around—tackling ideas such as acceptance, the horrors of humankind, and the uncertainties facing newly implemented technology. Regardless of the genre or message, one thing is common throughout this list—each film transformed its genre and heavily influenced ensuing media. Like other aspects of society, nothing remains the same. Featured below are each genre’s most metamorphic movies to date, each proving timeless as they permeate our present-day cinema and culture, and shape our humanity.
When the British slapstick troupe released this King Arthur spoof, nobody expected much beyond a low-budget, throwaway comedy. Not only was the movie a success, it revolutionized comedy for decades to come, becoming a classic of the genre and a staple in mainstream culture. The Pythons arguably invented trolling with their 25-minute pre-title sequence. They took pleasure in having their critics trash their off-beat piece at the time, especially the film’s unsatisfactory ending. In typical Monty Python fashion, the creators had the last laugh. The comedy troupe thrived by juxtaposing heroic shenanigans with gray, dismal atmospheres. Monty Python—far removed from the tired comedy synonymous with traditional slapstick—led many comedians to benefit off of their success in later years.
Horror – Psycho (1960)
Musical – Grease (1978)
With the release of this instant masterpiece, Alfred Hitchcock further cemented himself as the Master of Suspense, crushing old norms, inventing new ones, and altering the trajectory of horror flicks forever. In Psycho, the shower scene shocked audiences with its violence and sexual explicitness. Combine this with the pre-marital, post-coital opening scene, and gone were the days of innocent storytelling and the cheery 1950s. Before Psycho, horror was dominated by monstrous creatures and botched experiments from Nosferatu (1922) to Frankenstein (1931). Hitchcock swapped civil disorder with humanity’s horror, jolting American populations with domestic terror. The scariest part about Psycho is it could happen to anyone. Another radical departure from the genre’s norms—and film norms in general—was the killing of the protagonist a third of the way through, a disorientation that pioneered the brutal shock-value seen in today’s horror. Psycho also famously uprooted theatre norms, as it was the first film to enforce cinema showtimes. Before, moviegoers could attend films throughout the show’s duration, but Hitchcock insisted that this laissez-faire approach would ruin the plot twist. It’s clear the ripple effects of Psycho are alive even 60 years later.
After a summer of passionate yearning, two star-crossed lovers reunite in high school during senior year. Grease’s lightheartedness confidently addressed complex issues that weren’t commonplace with prior musicals. The film executed this in a manner that didn’t patronize nor minimize the gravity of adolescence, even with its slick tuneful approach. With $396 million at the worldwide box office, Grease became the highest-grossing live-action musical of all time, until it was dethroned by Disney’s recent edition of Beauty and the Beast. As the 1950s waned, Grease challenged audiences with its raunchy undertones and messages of peer pressure. The film complemented a new era of opposing acquiescence and the re-examination of virginity, relationships, provocative costumes, and unprotected sex.
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Coming of Age – The Breakfast Club (1985) This poignant and relatable tale of a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal, all braving adolescence together one Saturday morning, tackled the themes of teen angst, without trivializing their issues and experiences. Overcoming the ruthless hierarchical archetypes of high school, the movie embraced adolescent insecurities, creating a hopefulness by stripping away their cliques.
In the heart of the 1980s, The Breakfast Club portrayed authentic teenage emotions and acceptance in an era that perpetuated conformity. The movie’s quintessential story broke off and birthed teenage comedy by the end of the decade, inspiring all other coming-of-age stories to come. Romantic Comedy – Pretty Woman (1990) It seems simple now, but featuring a “good guy, bad girl” relationship was quite groundbreaking. Pretty Woman dared to buck the trend of films before, which typically explored the steady corruption of the innocent femme by their male partner, alike Say Anything… and Heathers, both of which were released the year previous. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Pretty Woman was a rom-com renaissance and proved the genre cannot only compete but dominate others at the box office. This modernized retelling of the classic Cinderella fantasy reverberated throughout Hollywood, creating a successful blueprint for future romantic comedies—a dramatic makeover, a movie montage complemented with a pop song, and a grand kiss to allow all of its audience to swoon. This crowd-pleasing formula helped other up-and-coming female actresses such as Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock, and countless others to become ensnared in the rom-com world. Psychological Horror – The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Being the only horror film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, The Silence of the Lambs helped other psychological horror movies garner critical acclaim, although none to the same level. This cinematic-opulent flick is a masterclass in subliminal tension. Cinematographer Tak Fujimoto used subtle camera techniques were used to maximize our identification with the female protagonist, Clarice (Jodie Foster). For most of the movie, the camera is diverted under Clarice’s chin for its entirety rather than above—a tactic usually used to disempower women and emphasize them as perilous. This simple tactic was effective in allowing the audience to care for her, despite being outside the confines of the jail cell. It was rare for 1990s’ movies to possess strong female persuasion, but Clarice’s courageous actions overcame the
tightening camera. Meanwhile, the audience caught the male characters’ gaze directly, causing viewers to understand the feeling of being surrounded in a male-dominated, patronizing law enforcement environment. Silence of the Lambs sparked protagonist diversity in subsequent years, whether in Scream, The Conjuring, Hereditary, or many other psychological horror films. Action – The Bourne Identity (2002) Although fairly recent, The Bourne Identity revolutionized action scenes, particularly how they were filmed, serving as a breakthrough for the genre. The Bourne Identity, along with the rest of its trilogy, chopped down on average shot length (ASL)—the mean length of a scene before it’s cut. In Bourne Identity, the ASL was around four seconds; the sequel was further condensed to 2.4 seconds; and finally, Bourne Ultimatum did the impossible with an ASL of two seconds. Three-thousand twohundred camera shots in only 105 minutes. With this feature, the camera work is shaky and disorienting and meant to increase viewer anxiety, so it’s not just observed, but experienced. The filming mimics how our sensory perception works, with bits of information being accumulated to formulate an action sequence. This choppy chaotic intensity has been recreated many times, spearheading a monumental shift in the way we consume action. Dystopian Drama – Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018) While only a recent release, Bandersnatch has no doubt transformed entertainment. This interactive film—the first of its kind—uprooted film narrative conventions that stretch back over a century. Audiences had to decide between two gruesome outcomes after the next, all with the click of a button. Given Black Mirror pushed the boundaries of bleakness in the past, a choose-your-own-adventure became an obvious next step in the show’s evolution. Starring Fionn Whitehead, this standalone, feature-length episode explores the dangers of emerging technologies. Ironically, the interactive element symbolizes how society fears new technology, but embraces it when deciding the fate of others.
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sports & health
Editor | Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield sports@themedium.ca
Did the Raptors win in free agency? Rachel Lord Contributor
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Photo/Jackie Niam
Starving for social contact MIT study finds hunger for social contact feels the same as hunger for food. Duaa Nasir Contributor
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hat do you miss most during this pandemic? For many people, it’s seeing friends, partners, and family members they do not live with. For others, it’s going outside without a mask and breathing in fresh air, grabbing a cup of coffee every morning, and regular campus life. For those of us who are not particularly vulnerable to Covid-19, our concerns can seem trivial compared to the lifethreatening dangers the at-risk and elderly face. A study from MIT finds that our craving for socialization during social isolation resembles the food cravings we feel when we’re hungry. This study, “Acute social isolation evokes midbrain craving responses similar to hunger,” by Dr. Livia Tomova, Dr. Kimberly L. Wang, and their team, was published in Nature Neuroscience on November 23, 2020. The study involved 40 healthy participants who spent 10 hours without any social contact or social stimulation (e.g. phones). According to the paper, they spent this time in an MIT room “containing an armchair, a desk and an office chair, and a fridge with a selection of food, snacks, and beverages.” The only social contact they had was with the researchers in case of problems, or notifications through a Slack channel. After this, the participants reported “increased social craving,” loneliness, “discomfort and dislike of isolation,” and “decreased happiness.”
“There were a whole bunch of interventions we used to make sure that it would really feel strange and different and isolated,” says Rebecca Saxe, Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT and senior author of the study. “They had to let us know when they were going to the bathroom so we could make sure it was empty. We delivered food to the door and then texted them when it was there so they could go get it. They really were not allowed to see people.” After this isolation period, the participants, who had previously been taught how to enter the MRI machines, did just that. Saxe explains that “normally, getting somebody into an MRI machine is actually a really social process. We engage in all kinds of social interactions to make sure people understand what we’re asking them, that they feel safe, that they know we’re there.” However, in this case, to avoid interfering with the data “the subjects had to do it all by themselves, while the researcher, who was gowned and masked, just stood silently by and watched,” says Saxe. For the second part of the study, the participants fasted for 10 hours. They reported “increased food craving,” more hunger, more “discomfort and dislike of fasting,” and “decreased happiness,” compared to how they felt before fasting. After this, the researchers took another set of MRI scans. They found that the substantia nigra, the region of the brain linked to craving food and drugs, gave off similar signals when the participants saw photos of people happily socializing and when they saw photos of food after fasting. There was also a correlation between the strength of the brain signal and how strongly the participants rated their craving for food or social interaction. “People who are forced to be isolated crave social interactions similarly to the way a hungry person craves food. Our finding fits the intuitive idea that positive social interactions are a basic human need, and acute loneliness is an aversive state that motivates people to repair what is lacking, similar to hunger,” says Saxe.
he NBA season is officially starting up again on December 22nd . The Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri announced that the Raptors were not permitted by the city of Toronto to commence the start of the season in Toronto. All home games will be played in Tampa Bay, Florida. This year marks a huge season for the Raptors as many star players, including Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, became free agents. Free agency opened last week, with signings having started at 12:01pm on November 22. Fred VanVleet, point guard for the Raptors from Wichita State University, re-signed on a four-year, 85-million-dollar deal. VanVleet was a crucial part of the NBA championship win in 2019 and became one to look out for last season. He averaged career highs with an average 17.6 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.9 steals. He also played an average of 35.7 minutes per game. “Steady Freddy” is definitely one to watch out for this season! Marc Gasol’s short time with the Raptors was crucial in the 2019 Championship, as Gasol played the last year and a half in Toronto. However, Gasol signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Last Wednesday, over video call, Gasol told reporters, “I’m going to miss Toronto… that’s just the way, sadly, this business goes, but I thought my run in Toronto could not get better.” Serge Ibaka has decided to leave the Raptors and join the Los Angeles Clippers on a twoyear, 19-million-dollar contract. This is the second year in a row the Raptors see the departure of a crucial player to the Clippers— Kawhi Leonard left in the 2019 off-season. After two and a half successful seasons in Toronto, averaging 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, Ibaka made the tough decision of a longer-term contact in L.A. In addition, Chris Boucher will stay with the Raptors on a two-year, $13.5 million deal, according to Sportsnet. Boucher averaged 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last year, and his signing demonstrates what fans can expect from Toronto’s front court this year. The official NBA draft commenced on November 18 with some crucial signings announced by Masai Ujiri. Free agent center Alex Len has agreed to a one-year deal joining the Raptors this season. The financial details of the contract have yet to be released, but Len will play a crucial role in the center after the departure of Gasol. Len is expected to be the third center on the roster, which will provide essential coverage in the case that injury occurs. SB Nation reports that he should be a crucial screen-setter for Lowry and VanVleet. The Raptors have signed Jalen Harris from Nevada for the upcoming season. Named a “scoring machine” by All Raptors, Harris told reporters, “I’m very versatile. I think that’s one thing that Toronto can expect from me, is somebody that can do a lot of everything.” Another player to watch out for this season is Aron Baynes from Phoenix, who has signed a two-year, $14.3 million deal. Last year he averaged a career high of 11.5 points per game. We look forward to the exciting upcoming season for the Toronto Raptors starting next month!